[Hallicrafters] Antenna Ice

[Bill Gerhold]

>From all the replies to this ice on the antenna subject, I am starting to
believe none of you get QST or if you do, your not reading it.

I think it is in last month, this month or 2 months ago QST has an article
on building and ice resistant beam.  Go look it up.  The antenna is painted
black and the gamma match is in a radom.

K2WH

-----Original Message-----
From: hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Everette
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 3:24 PM
To: Thomas C. Dailey - Dailey Services, LLC; hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Antenna Ice

This is very good information.

> One thing we've done out
> here in Colorado (some 
> of our repeat-me's are at about 13,000 feet), is to
> paint 'em with NON 
> metallic paint, in a FLAT BLACK color.  (artiists
> out there will tell you 
> that's the Lack of Color).  It doesn't affect the
> radiation in the warm or 
> cold, but when the Sun shines on them, the
> flat-black does mitigate some of 
> the ice, and then can eventually rid themselves of
> ice 

FYI, if you're planning a repeater site where ice or
salt air corrosion may be a problem, a manufacturer
called Comprod Communications, headquartered in
Montreal, I think, offers their antennas with an
optional -- but extra cost -- black anodized finish. 
This does the same thing for ice as painting the
antenna, but the black anodized finish is much more
durable.  It's well worth the extra expense, and their
antennas are extremely rugged.  You will probably have
to use Comprod's mounting clamp kits, though; and they
also tend to be a little pricier than DB Products or
Andrew but the upside is, you won't have to worry
about anything except the tower falling down.

I don't have any financial interest in Comprod; but at
work, we've put several of their antennas on high
mountain top sites that ate other antennas for
breakfast, and have yet to lose a Comprod.

Sinclair, another Canadian- based manufacturer, also
offers interesting antennas for harsh environments.

73

Mike
WA4DLF





 
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